Effects and functions of costusroot

Traditional Chinese medicine requires the use of traditional Chinese medicine when treating diseases, and costusroot, as one of the traditional Chinese medicines, is also frequently used. So, let’s talk about the effects and functions of costusroot.

[Source] Medicinal material source: The fruit of Litsea cubeba, a plant of the Lauraceae family.

[Original form] Litsea cubeba is a deciduous small tree or shrub, up to 4m tall. The twigs are stout, sparsely covered with yellow filamentous hairs when young, which fall off later and become hairless; the terminal buds are conical, with glabrous scales or slightly short soft hairs on the upper part. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 0.5-1.2cm long, densely covered with yellowish-white or rusty-yellow long silky hairs when young, and then become glabrous; leaf blades are obovate or narrowly obovate, rarely elliptical, 4-12cm long, 2.5-5cm wide, with acute or obtuse apex, cuneate or broadly cuneate base, papery, densely covered with yellowish-white or rusty silky hairs on both sides when young, gradually falling off when old, with only the midrib on the upper side having hairs, and sparse long silky hairs on the lower side. Umbel solitary at the top of last year's branches, opening before leaves or at the same time as leaves; flowers unisexual, dioecious; each inflorescence has 10-13 flowers, light yellow; pedicels densely pubescent; perianth lobes 6, elliptic or nearly round, with 3 veins, male flowers have 9 fertile stamens, filaments base pubescent, and reduced ovary ovate; female flowers have reduced stamens base pubescent, ovary ovate, style short, stigma capitate. The fruit is spherical, about 5mm in diameter, and black when ripe; the fruit stalk is 1.5-2.5cm long and has sparse long hairs. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruiting period is August-September.

[Habitat distribution] Ecological environment: grows on hillside roadsides or in bushes.

【Properties】 Identification: The fruit is spherical, with a diameter of 3-6mm. The surface is brown or black and wrinkled. There is a fruit stalk scar at the base, and some have fruit stalks, 1.5-2.5cm long, with a slightly swollen and disc-shaped tip. The peel breaks easily. It has a strong aroma and a spicy and cool taste.

【Nature and flavor】 Pungent; bitter; warm

【Meridian】 Spleen; Stomach meridian

【Functions and indications】Promotes the flow of Qi; strengthens the stomach and helps digestion. Indigestion; abdominal distension and pain

[Usage and Dosage] For oral use: decoction, 6-10g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Through the introduction of the effects and functions of costusroot, everyone knows its magic. In fact, there are many seemingly ordinary people or things in life that contain power that we cannot imagine. Now that everyone knows the magical therapeutic effects and functions of costus root, you can try it to test whether it is effective.